Automatic privy-vault cover



April 3, 1928.

J. D. LANG AUTOMATIC PRIVY VAULT COVER Fi led Aug. 9, 1927 INVENTOR.-

Jalmlhug A TTORNEYJ automatic covers which will be closed when PatentedApr. 3, 1928.

301m 1). LANG, or aoiliinnnn; NORTH CAROLINA.

' AUfIoMATIC' rn vY-vAUL'r covn'n.

Application filed a ust 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,697.

The invention relates to covers for privy vaults, and has as an objecttheprovision of not in use, and which will be automatically opened bya-weight upon theseat. 7

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription when read in connection with the accompanying draw ng in wlFigure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away, u

Fig."2 is a vertical transverse section on line 22 of Figure 1, with thecovers shown closed; r 7

Fig.3 is "a central vertical longitudinal section on line 33 of Figure2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the covers shown open.

As shown, the device comprises a box-like structure 10, shown assupported by a base 11, which latter may bear other like boxes, thestructure 10 upwardly terminating in a shoulder 12 upon which foldingtrap doors or covers 13, 14 are adapted to seat when closed. To supportthe covers 13, 14 and the toilet seat member 15, there is shown anupward extension of the box 10 having a front 16, which may be flushwith the front of the box 10 and side members 17, 18 later ally offsetfrom the box 10 to provide the shoulders 12 already referred to.

The seat 15 is shown as hinged at 19 to a frame 20. The cover members13, 14 are shown as hinged to the side members 17, 18 at 21,22respectively, and a strip 23 is shown upon the cover members whenclosed, as more clearly shown in Figure 2.

To automatically operate the covers 13, 14 to open position when theseat 15 is depressed, there are shown arms 24, 25 terminating inflattened port-ions 26, 27, which are shown as secured to the covers 13,14. The free ends of the lever arms 24, 25 are shown as perforated andengage link members 28, 29, the upper ends of which are engaged withbrackets 30, 31 carried by the seat 15.

To cause the automatic lifting of the seat 15 and consequent closure ofthe covers 13, 14, levers 32, 33 are shown pivoted upon fittings 34, 35,carried by the sides 17, 18 of the frame. The arms 32, 33 are providedwith weights 36, 37 and the non-weighted ends of the levers are shown asconnected by means of links 38, 39 to the brackets 30, 31.

To enable the user of the device to lower the seat and thereby open thecovers 13, 14

a lever 40 is shown pivoted at 41 manually and connected by to the frameof the device,

means of a link 42 to the weight lever 32. I

A pedal extremity 43 is provided upon the 45 is provided in a rearprojection 46 of the lever 40, which may be operated by the foot.

box-like structure 10, which openingfcom-;

mun cates with the vault below the covers 13', 14, to which a downwardlyupon links 38, 39 will depress the ends of the levers 24, 25 which,being rigidly secured to the covers 13, 14 will cause movement about thehinges 21, 22 to the position shown in Fig. 4. WVhen the cover 14 isreleased weights 36, 37 pushing upwardly upon the seat 16, through links38, 39 will return the device to the normal position shown in Figure 2and the weights 36, 37 may be overcome'by lever 43 through link 42.

To provide free movement of the covers 13, 14in the event of swelling ofthe material thereof, the covers are made shorter than the insidedimensions of the device and strips 47, 48 preferably of anon-corrodible metal such as aluminum are secured inside the box at theends of the covers in their closed position, the strip 23 being of sucha length as. to lap over the metal strip at its ends to preserve a catedin Figure 1.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiment of the inventionwithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from itsspirit.

I claim:

1. A vault cover comprising, in combination, a frame having internalshoulders be low its upper edges, a seat hinged to the frame, a pair, ofupwardly opening covers hinged to the interior of said frame above saidshoulders and adapted to openupwardly under said seat and whenvclosed toenventilating pipe may be connected, or which may open behind a partition adjacent to "whichthel'device'is located.-

I Depression'of the-cover 15"--by ushingtight joint and as indigage saidshoulders and cover the vault 1 of said levers to said seat, an armpivotally mounted upon one side of the frame, means to urgesaid armupwardly at its forward end to normally hold the seat in elevatedposition and the covers in closed position and cause depression of theseat to automatically open said covers.

2. A vault cover comprising, in combination, a frame having internalshoulders below its top, a seat hinged to the top of the frame, a pairof upwardly opening covers hinged above said shoulders and operated toopen upwardly under said seat andwhen closedv to engage said shouldersand cover the vault opening, levers secured to said covers and havingfree ends projecting through openings in the sides of the frame, linksconnecting the ends of said levers with said seat, an arm pivotallymounted upon one side of said frame, means to urge said arm upwardly atits forward end, said arm having link connection with said seat wherebysaid means may hold the seat in elevated position and the covers inclosed position, whereby depression of the seat may automatically opensaid covers, a lever pivoted link connected end of said arm, and a pedalextremity upon the last' mentioned lever whereby the seat and covers maybe operated by the foot of the user.

3. A vault cover comprising, in combination, a box like frame, internalshoulders carried by said frame intermediate its height, a seat hingedto the top of theframe, a pair of covers of less length than theinternal dimension of the frame hinged to'the interior of the frame toseat on said shoulders, bars of non-corrodible metal secured on saidshoulders at the ends of the covers when closed to fill the space, meansconnectseat in an elevated position when the covers are closed and tolift the covers when the seat is depressed. 1 i

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature.

JOHN D. LANG.

'40 ing said covers and seat acting to hold the

